Ballot-box.



L. J. HYSLUP.

BALLOT BOX.

APPLICATION EILED JAN- s. I9I.6.

1,21 1,854. Patented Jan. 9,1917.

barren sILa rns manna carton.

LEVIN J. HYs'LUP, or KELLER, VIRGINIA.

BALLOT-Box.

Specification of Letters Patent.

mam-ea Jan. 9, 1917.

' Applicati onfiled iaiiuar' 8,1916. s'erialivo. 71,052;

in the art to which it appertains to'make' and use the same.

This invention relates to a ballot box to be used at various kinds ofelections and the primary object of the invention is to provide a ballotbox which is constructed so that the ballot deposited within the boxcannot be tampered with or changed without mutilating the ballot box insuch a way that detection is readily achieved.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ballot box asspecified which has a removable lid or cover, and to provide fabricsealing members which extend across the cover of the box and are sealedto the ends of the box so that the cover cannot be removed from the boxexcept by the cutting or breaking of the seals or fabric strips, andfurther to position a strip of fabric over the slot formed in the coverthrough which the ballots are deposited into the box, so that ballotscannot be deposited into the box prior to the desired time.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention consistsin such novel features of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail ref erence will be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein like characters designate like andcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure lis a perspective view of the improved ballot box. Fig. 2 is a sectionalview on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 ofFig. 2, and Fig. 4: is a section on the line 4&4: of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates the ballot boxas an entirety which has ends 2 and 3 and a remov able cover A. Thecover A may be either a hinged or slidably supported cover as desired.The ends 2 and 3 of the ballot box 1 are provided with a plurality ofslots 5 extending therethrough, through which slots the ends 6 of fabricstrips 7 extend as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Thestrips 7 extend upwardly along the ends of the box and longitudinallyover the top of the cover A. A sealing material indicated at 8 isattached to the outer surfaces of the ends 2 and 3 and engages the" endsof the fabric ,strips for securely ,attaching the strips of fabric tothe box. oertaiii portions of the sealing wax will enter the slot 5which will form anchors for the sealing wax or material. The strips 7have their facing edges spaced as is shown at 9, for positioning uponthe opposite sides of the ballot depositing slot or opening 10 which isformed in the cover 4 of the ballot box 1.. A fabric strip 11 is securedto the strip 7 and extends transversely thereto and over the outeropening of the slot 10.

WVhen it is desired to use the ballot box at an election, the fabricstrip 11 is cut so as to permit of the depositing of ballots through theslot or opening 10 into the box. After the election, the fabric strips 7must be cut and folded back off the cover to permit of the removal ofthe cover from the box, thereby preventing the fraudulent tampering withthe ballots contained within the box owing to the fact that the openingof the box cannot be accomplished without the mutilation of the fabricstrips 7.

In reducing the invention to practice, certain minor features ofconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts may be altered tosuit practical conditions provided such alterations are comprehendedwithin the scope of what is claimed.

l/Vhat isclaimed is 1. In a ballot box structure, the combination of aballot box body having ends, a removable cover for said box, said coverbeing provided with a slot to permit of the insertion of ballots withinthe box, a fabric strip, a sealing material for attaching the ends ofsaid fabric strip to the ends of said ballot box, said fabric stripextending over the removable cover for preventing removal of the coverfrom the box, and asecond fabric strip extending transversely across thecover and secured to said first named fabric strip, said second namedfabric strip extending over said slot.

2. In a ballot box structure, the combination, of a ballot box bodyincluding ends and a removable cover, said ends being provided with aplurality of slots, a plurality of fabric strips, the ends of saidstrips being inserted through said slots, said strips extendinglongitudinally across said removable cover, a sealing material attachedto the outer surfaces of the end of said box and engaging the ends ofsaid fabric strips for securely sealing the fabric strips in place forpreventing the removal of said cover.

3. In a ballot box structure, the combination of a ballot box bodyincluding ends and a removable cover, said ends being provided With aplurality of slots, a plurality of fabric strips, the ends of saidstrips being inserted through said slots, said strips extendinglongitudinally across said removable cover, a sealing material attachedto the outer surfaces of the ends of said box and engaging the ends ofsaid fabric strips for securely sealing the fabric strips in place forpreventing the removal of said cover, said cover being provided with aslot for permitting of the deposit of ballots Within said ballot box,and a fabric strip secured to said first named fabric strips andextending over said slot.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LEVIN J. I-IYSLUP.

WVitnesses JOHN D. GRANT, Jr., ROBERT E. POWELL.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

